Labour Market and Employment Relations in a National and International Perspective

Globalization and societal transformation is changing the working life conditions in the 21st century. The global context in which these changes occur is studied with the purpose of providing the students with the basis on which to assess current development tendencies. Conditions of employment (Employment Relations/Industrial Relation) and the functional methods of the labour market, its actors and institutions for formation of wages and establishing other conditions of employment, are studied from different perspectives. Classic Employment Relations/Industrial Relations-theories are juxtaposed with new ways of understanding situations of employment and labour market relations.

Using the Swedish and Scandinavian model of labour market relations as a point of departure, the course presents the function of the labour unions, employers' organization, and the government on the Swedish labour market. The course describes labour market and employment policy and its influence on employment rates.

Other ways of organizing labour market organizations are described as well. Special attention is paid to Great Britain, the US, France, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, East Asia, and Eastern Europe. The course also covers the role of multinational companies as well as new ways of managing employment conditions.

Instruction is usually in the form of lectures, classes, seminars, laboratory assignments, and croup exercises.

The course is a collaboration with the University of Borås, University of Gothenburg, and Halmstad University, which means that some lectures and seminars might be located outside Karlstad. In addition, part of the course may be in the form of distance learning.

Progressive specialisation: A1N (has only first‐cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Education level: Master's level

Admission requirements: Upper secondary school level Swedish B/Swedish as a Second Language B and English A, or the equivalent. Working Life Science, 90 ECTS Credits, or the equivalent.

Selection:

Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.